Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Nissan altima. While the contact's wife was driving 40 MPH, there was a strong burning odor inside the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, lifted the hood, and noticed flames. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was not towed nor taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed…
2010 Nissan Altima engine problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
2fires
7injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 20 engine complaints filed for the 2010 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Owners report dangerous stalling without warning, engine fires, catalytic converter failure requiring multiple replacements, and oil seal leaks on 2010 Altimas—with Nissan claiming defects are normal or refusing coverage. The 20 complaints span stalling, fire, diagnostic trouble codes, and failure of critical engine systems from 35,500 to 155,000 miles.
The 20 complaints describe a pattern of severe engine and emissions control failures. Stalling happens without warning at 40–70 mph, forcing owners onto highway shoulders where they risk rear-end collision; one owner was hit and airborne. Nissan technical support dismissed one owner's jerking as normal and denied warranty help for ECM replacement after reprogramming failed.
Engine fires are documented twice—at 82,000 and 155,000 miles—with smoke and loss of power preceding flames under the hood. A new Altima overheated to the maximum gauge with no oil-level warning, then stalled and filled with black smoke.
Catalytic converter failures run rampant. One owner replaced the converter twice in 17,000 miles because an improperly calibrated ECM falsely detects engine knock and floods fuel, overheating the converter. A diagnostic code P0402 shows up repeatedly. An emission recall campaign exists but doesn't cover all affected VINs. Rear engine oil seals leak prematurely at 75,000–76,000 miles, creating fire risk.
Starting failures, body control module defects causing violent shaking, and power loss on hills round out the reported failures. Dealers often cannot diagnose the stalling, and when they do identify the problem—bad ECM or converter—Nissan refuses to cover repairs. Owners describe this as a pattern Nissan is aware of but unwilling to address.
Same Nissan Altima engine reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling without warning
Vehicle stalls or loses power unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds, sometimes multiple times, creating safety hazards including rear-end collisions.
When: 12,000–82,000 miles; one case at 47,038 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while driving; Stalling at 40–70 mph; No warning before failure; Violent shaking with all warning lamps illuminating
Codes mentioned: P0402
Repairs/costs cited: ECM reprogramming attempted but failed to resolve; ECM replacement recommended by one dealer but not performed. No successful repairs documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan technical assistance told one owner the jerking behavior was 'normal.' Nissan denied assistance with ECM replacement. Case number 18593816 documented; Nissan refused inspection citing no recalls.
Catalytic converter overheating and failure
Catalytic converter overheats and fails due to improperly calibrated ECM that falsely detects engine knock and increases fuel flow. Multiple replacements required in short intervals.
When: 105,000 miles (first failure), 122,000 miles (second failure at 15,000 miles later), 129,880 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light (P0402); Excessive fuel flow; Overheating catalytic converter; Engine knocking sound on acceleration; Excessive blowby with oil in PVC system
Codes mentioned: P0402
Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replaced twice (7/14/2014 at 105,000 miles; 9/08/2015 at 122,000 miles). One owner paying out-of-pocket for ECM reprogramming with updated software.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Emission recall campaign CSC-10043941-7009 (NTB12-040D) exists but does not cover all affected VINs. Nissan classified as manufacturer defect and federal emissions law issue.
Engine fire under hood
Vehicle catches fire underneath the hood while driving, resulting in total loss and injuries. Preceded by loss of power and smoke.
When: 82,000 miles; 155,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Burning odor inside vehicle; Smoke from under hood; Loss of power; Flames visible from under hood
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle totaled by insurance. Fire department extinguished fire in second case. No diagnosis or repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan contacted (case 27217273); stated investigators would contact owner within three days. No further action documented.
Rear engine oil seal failure and leakage
Rear engine oil seal leaks prematurely, creating fire and environmental hazards. Occurs on relatively new vehicles with low mileage.
When: 75,000 miles (4 years old); 76,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking on ground; Burning odor under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Seals diagnosed as failed at dealer. No repairs performed despite fire risk.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan consumer affairs refused to repair. Nissan provides extended coverage for CVT transmission leaks but not engine oil seal leaks.
Engine overheating with low oil warning failure
Engine overheats without dashboard warning of low oil level. Vehicle stalls and produces smoke; no oil-level alert to driver.
When: At service start; approximately 700 miles on new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: A/C failure immediately; Engine overheating to maximum on gauge; Black smoke from hood and back of car; No low-oil warning light; Noise like water running in dash on startup
Repairs/costs cited: One shop suspected serpentine belt issue. Owner added Lucas oil additive to low reservoir.
Engine jerking and worsening performance
New vehicle develops jerking during driving that worsens over time. Dealer unable to diagnose after two weeks; Nissan technical support claims condition is normal.
When: Early in ownership; vehicle purchased March 2010
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking while driving; Continues to worsen; Concern of power loss during driving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan engineer told Nissan technical support the jerking is normal operation; no repair offered. Nissan consumer department filed complaint with no reported urgency.
Starting failure with illuminated instrument panel
Vehicle fails to power on despite instrument panel illuminating, preventing engine start.
When: 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Failure to power on; Instrument panel illuminates
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis undetermined; vehicle not repaired.
Intermittent starting failure
Vehicle intermittently fails to start at higher mileage.
When: Approximately 82,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent failure to start
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose failure.
Body control module defect with violent shaking
Vehicle shakes violently at highway speed with all warning lamps illuminating. Body control module diagnosed as defective and replaced, but remedy failed.
When: 35,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking at 80 mph; All warning lamps illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Body control module replaced; repair unsuccessful.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan made aware; no further action documented.
Power loss on steep hills
Vehicle slows severely when driving on steep inclines.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Severe slowdown on steep hills
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2010 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2010 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 47,038 and 108,000 miles, with the median around 82,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,038; a quarter make it past 108,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.